On February 7, 2009, a 16 year old high school student in Cadillac, MI took his own life after he could no longer endure the mean behavior of other students. His name was Alex Claypool Thomas Harrison.

The first letters of his name spell out ACT and that became the name of our group, ACT Now. Our number one goal is to STOP teenage suicide. We do this by raising funds for school and community projects, raising awareness by putting on events and passing out information and providing the students and other community members with a resource in their time of need.

Our community came together after this horrible tragedy in an incredible way, but we want to continue the positive results and carry it to different parts of our region, in Michigan and possibly nationwide.

See It. Hear It. Stop it. These words are not only a slogan for the ACT Now team, but a way of life. It represents everyone working together to stop mean behavior. You too can be a part of our efforts by joining our group, volunteering your time, donating to your school and simply respecting others for who they are.

Abuse / Abusive Relationships

If you feel your life is in danger or you may harm someone else, you need to immediately call 911 and get help. Emergency services are the fastest way to get assistance.

What is abuse? We define it as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or punishment which results in physical harm, pain or mental anguish.

There are varying types of abuse which may include:

Physical Abuse:defined as anything one person does to another that causes physical pain. This includes slapping, pinching, punching, pushing, throwing objects at another person, assaulting someone with an object or anything that brings about physical pain or discomfort to another.

Verbal Abuse:defined as the use of any oral, written or gestured language that willfully includes disparaging, derogatory, rude or discourteous terms within hearing distance of another person.

Mental Abuse:defined as a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that is psychologically harmful. Also referred to as psychological or emotional abuse. Examples include humiliation, harassment, threats of punishment, or withholding something that another person wants or needs.

Sexual Abuse:defined as the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. Examples include: inappropriate touching, sexual threats, unlawful sexual activity, sexual harassment, sexual coercion, sexual assault or contact with a person without his or her consent.

Neglect:defined as the failure to care for, provide care to, or adequately supervise a child or someone in your care which results in physical, mental or educational harm. Examples include: Not providing adequate food, clothing or shelter, not seeking medical or dental care as needed, ignoring, not spending enough time with, abandonment and not allowing to go to school.